Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced on Mar. 16 that he is joining a coalition of attorneys general to defend a Safe Drinking Water Act rule requiring public water systems to replace lead service lines within a set timeline.
The issue is significant because lead exposure, especially in children, can cause serious health problems including brain damage and developmental delays. The legal brief was filed after the American Water Works Association challenged the federal rule in court.
“We should all be able to agree on getting lead out of our children’s drinking water,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “Lead exposure damages kids’ brains. There is no safe level. Some water systems don’t want to pay to replace those pipes – that’s why the law requires it. Weakening that rule means more kids drinking water with lead in it. That’s indefensible, and I’m fighting back.”
The contested rule requires most public water systems to replace all lead service lines within ten years, while those with a higher percentage of such pipes may receive additional time for compliance. Lead service lines are identified as the main source of contamination when they corrode and release lead into household water supplies, posing risks not only for children but also adults, including increased chances of kidney and brain damage, miscarriage during pregnancy, and birth defects in infants.
Jackson leads the North Carolina State Executive Attorney General’s office as attorney general according to the official website. The office aims to prevent crime, assist law enforcement, protect consumers and defend state residents’ rights according to the official website. It provides services across North Carolina including legal representation, criminal prosecution support and consumer protection according to the official website. The office also represents state agencies in court and prosecutes criminal appeals according to the official website, acting as a government entity authorized for legal and regulatory matters on behalf of North Carolina according to the official website.
Jackson is joined by attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia in filing this amicus brief.
